3379 – Public Access: Challenges Surrounding Works in Public Places

Displaying works in a public setting is becoming more widespread as museums and arts programs extend their reach into local communities. Professionals who care for objects outside gallery walls are faced with a distinct set of challenges and require resources outside normal parameters. Managers of these collections must contend with nontraditional issues including the complexity of public access, appropriate staffing and funding resources, and difficulties surrounding maintenance and vandalism. In this session, you will hear from presenters from a city arts program, outdoor sculpture park, university collection and a conservator who offer creative tips and examples on the care, maintenance and seemingly insurmountable struggles that come with caring for these public works.